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Course overview

Veterinary physiotherapy plays a vital role in helping animals recover or adapt from injury or surgery. Working with vets, owners, and businesses, you'll ensure animals have the best quality of life after they recover.

At Nottingham, our veterinary physiotherapy course is part-time so that you can continue your career while you learn. With an emphasis on hands-on learning with real animals, plus all the theory. We'll ensure you have the skills you need to become a qualified veterinary physiotherapist.

Ideal for veterinary nurses and surgeons, musculoskeletal practitioners, as well as other related professions.

We do not accept international/EU applications for this course unless the applicant is already domicile in the UK.

Why choose this course?

World top 50

for veterinary science

3rd in the UK

for veterinary medicine

4th in the UK

for veterinary science

Accreditation

and approved as a Recognised Educational Provider by

Flexible course

36 months part-time, enabling you to continue your career while you learn

Award-winning school

From student satisfaction and research power, to individual awards for staff and students

View our awards and achievements

Course content

Gain the theory and practical elements required to become a veterinary physiotherapist. The course is taught at weekends through lectures and clinical sessions in our purpose-built facilities and clinical caseloads in veterinary practices.

Year one topics

  • Electrotherapies 
  • Professionalism
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Pathology
  • Clinical skills
  • Core manual skills and clinical reasoning in the practicals

Year two topics

  • Applied clinical reasoning
  • Exercise programming
  • Case reporting
  • Professionalism
  • Project proposal for year three
  • Advancing your manual skills, clinical reasoning, and managing cases within the clinics and placements

It is possible to exit the course after two years with a PGDip qualification. 

Year three topics

An in-depth research project with relevance to veterinary physiotherapy. You'll be allocated a supervisor and given full support to run and complete your project. The projects run for 365 days.

Modules

Core modules

Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology 20 credits

This module covers the musculoskeletal and neurological systems appreciating cellular microanatomy to gross tissue organization and physiology of relevant systems. You will undertake dissections of canine and equine specimens. The module also covers biomechanics and gait analysis. Practical work relates to identification of bony landmarks, differentiating between axial and appendicular skeleton and comparative anatomy. The pathology teaching focusses鈥痮n the reactions鈥痮f the body systems to injury and disease. 

Foundations of Clinical Practice 20 credits

This modules introduces specific skills required by the veterinary physiotherapist. These include, palpation, manual techniques – massage, trigger points and myofascial release, active and passive range of motion along with electrotherapies and commonly used equipment such as cryotherapy and thermotherapy, wobble boards, proprioceptive tracks. Many of these skills are taught in small group practical sessions with live animals (horses, greyhounds and agility dogs). The sessions are guided by qualified veterinary physiotherapists.

In addition you will need to undertake at least 15 days of work-based learning within the animal care industry.

Foundations of Professional Practice in Veterinary Physiotherapy 20 credits

You’ll develop skills in:

  • fundamental scientific principles
  • risk assessment, first aid, basic approaches to handling
  • professional ethics, health and safety law, veterinary surgeons act and exemptions orders
  • study skills, IT skills
  • professional and peer communications
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Friday 03 July 2026.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Core modules

Research project 60 credits

You'll run a research project with relevance to veterinary physiotherapy. You will be allocated a supervisor and be given full support to run and complete your project. The projects run for 365 days.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Workshops
  • Demonstrations
  • Clinical caseloads
  • Clinical skills sessions

All your lectures and pre-clinical teaching will take place at our purpose-built veterinary school, based at our Sutton Bonington Campus or local associate practices.

Practical teaching will be delivered by qualified veterinary physiotherapists, both at the campus and local associate practices.

How you will be assessed

  • Formative assessment
  • Clinical assessment
  • Coursework
  • Practical assessment
  • Exams
  • Presentations
  • Dissertation
  • Group project

You'll be assessed through a combination of examinations, coursework and practical assessments. You'll need to pass each module with at least 50% to progress. All modules are compulsory.

Contact time and study hours

There will be a commitment of self-allocated days for the year 3 MSc project.

This will include:

Year 1

  • There are 11 taught contact weekends which include lectures, group work and practical's, 15 observational days in clinical practice and a minimum requirement of 10-15 hours (1-2 days) self-directed study per week. 

Year 2

  • This year has 5 taught contact weekends which include lectures, group work and practical's, 30 practical clinical days with approved providers based around the UK and a minimum requirement of 10-15 hours (1-2 days) self-directed study per week. 

Year 3

  • There is 1 week of taught content, a minimum of one supervision sessions per month and a minimum requirement of 10-15 hours (1-2 days) self-directed study per week.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2027 entry.

Undergraduate degreeA 2:2 first degree in an animal science or science subject. Alternatively, we will consider a 2:1 first degree in a BSc non-animal science or a BSc non-science subject.
Work experience

Animal handling experience

You'll be required to have a good working knowledge of the care, management and handling of dogs and horses. This will need to be evidence through animal handling references and sign off related to a list of competencies. Additionally, a minimum of five working days in a veterinary practice is required, ideally with a mix of large and small animals. This does not have to be in one block. Owning your own animals will not be sufficient. If you are unsure, please contact us to check whether your animal handling experience/ competency is adequate.

We take into consideration previous work experience, but we do ask that your animal handling competency has ideally taken place in the last 12 months.

Read our guidance for pre-course work experience.

We have produced a with all the details we need about your pre-course animal handling competency. This should be completed by the person supervising you. This form will only be for new experience completed after your original application for the course, which becomes a condition of offer if successful at interview. 

Professional qualification

We welcome applications from qualified veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and human physiotherapists. Prior learning must be to at least bachelor degree level.

Applying

We are now accepting applications for September 2027 entry.

Please note: All interviews will be held online via MS Teams.

You'll be required to obtain an occupational health clearance before you register on the course. Details of how to do this and when it should be done will be sent to you directly if you are made an offer.

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply
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Where you will learn

Purpose-built veterinary school

You'll study in our purpose-built veterinary school at Sutton Bonington Campus. Here you'll have access to:

  • anatomy, teaching and clinical skills labs
  • a large surgery and dissection suite
  • small and large-group teaching rooms, with projectors and electrical whiteboards
  • animal facilities, including stables and dog kennels
  • a virtual learning environment with lectures, workshops and teaching materials
Sutton Bonington Campus Postgraduate

Where you will learn

Sutton Bonington Campus

The Schools of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine are based on the Sutton Bonington Campus. Specialist facilities include the world-leading teaching and research laboratories, clinical skills suite and food processing hall. There is also a University farm and dairy centre, and temperature controlled glasshouses. 

There is a great sense of community, and the student union plays a big part in campus life. You will have access to student services, a library, sports centre and places to eat.

You can travel to University Park Campus in around 25 minutes on our free hopper bus, and Nottingham city centre via the tram network.

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK To be confirmed
International £26,900

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses: These include:

  • overalls (£26)
  • tunic (£20)
  • boots
  • riding hat
  • travel and accommodation for placement days - this will vary depending on your placement locations
  • any travel and accommodation for attending teaching weekends on campus

You'll be provided with PPE for dissections.

You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

Please allow time for your application fees to be processed if you are completing your application close to the deadline.

Additional information for international students

Please note: Due to the limitations of the UK immigration rules for this particular course, we cannot legally offer the course to applicants who do not already have permission to live in the UK. Please contact our Visa and Immigration team for any queries about your eligibility for this course. If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, in order for us to further determine your status you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire. Your answers will be assessed using .

Funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or r茅sum茅, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the 糖心原创 include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Graduates from this course go on to work as veterinary physiotherapists.

Find out more about veterinary physiotherapy as a career on our dedicated careers and employability page.

Career progression

100% of undergraduates from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

AHPR

We are accredited by the Animal Health Professions’ Register (AHPR).

RAMP

We are a recognised educational provider by the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP).

Accepted by IRVAP and NAVP

This course is accepted by the professional bodies Institute of Registered Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP) and National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP).

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" I gained the academic knowledge needed to form my clinical skills and reasoning, with the final year honing my research skills. The research I produced was then published as part of an equine science book. There was also an extraordinary level of hands-on practice enabling me to develop the manual therapy skills needed for veterinary physiotherapy. I am now self-employed as a veterinary physiotherapist working with elite and leisure horses and competition dogs. Not only did the degree help me develop the skills to be a veterinary physiotherapist, but helped build professional communication skills, essential for working with clients and vets alike. "
Anne Skivington, MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy student

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This content was last updated on Friday 03 July 2026. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.